BAXTER, E Felix V.C

Felix Baxter was born in Oldswinford, Stourbridge, on 18th September 1885 and lived his early life at ‘Thornleigh’, a sizeable detached property in the Hagley Road. This is now the Crab Mill public house. His father was Charles Baxter, who owned a business in the High Street as a maltster and miller, and his mother was Beatrice, daughter of Mr Harry Sparrow of ‘Battlefield’, Wombourn. Charles Baxter was a member of St. Mary’s church, Oldswinford, where he served as church warden for a time, and was a member of the group which raised the considerable funds for the new chancel in 1898. He and his family moved later to Hartlebury and lived in ‘Ivy Crest’, Inn Lane, and Felix was sent to Hartlebury Grammar School in 1894. From there he won a place in 1896 to enter Christ’s Hospital, the London Bluecoat school. The family then moved to ‘Mostyn’ in Kidderminster. From his grandfather onwards his family were keen sportsmen. His older brother was a Birmingham League cricketer and Felix became a competitive motorcyclist. He left Christ’s Hospital in 1901 to work in the United Counties Bank but then decided to enter the teaching profession. About 1905 he joined Skerry’s College in Rodney Street, Liverpool, where he eventually became Head Commercial Teacher. The next year he married Leonora Cornish of Roden Avenue, Kidderminster, on 24th February in Liverpool. They had one daughter, also Leonora, who was born in 1907 when they were living in Abercrombie. By 1914 the family were living at 5 Blantyre Road near Sefton Park. When war came, he enlisted in the Royal Engineers on the 4th September 1914 and on the same day was promoted to Sergeant. His pre-war experience as a motorcyclist was very useful and so he was given despatch rider duties in the Mersey Defence Corps. The next year he was selected for officer training and in September 1915 he was commissioned to the 1/8th King’s (Liverpool) Regiment, a Territorial battalion generally known as the Liverpool Irish. In January 1916 the battalion was sent to France as part of the 55th (West Lancashire) Division and moved to the Somme sector which was at that time a quiet part of the Western Front. The Division was stationed at the northern end of the sector close to Arras. The battalion was gradually acclimatised to front line duties and this process included raids on the German lines. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 19th February and quickly acquired a reputation for energy and leadership. On the 18th April a raid against the opposing trenches was carried out near Blaireville with Felix Baxter as second in command and bombing officer. Although it was a success for the ‘Forty Thieves’, as they had called themselves, he was seriously wounded, taken prisoner by the Germans and died of his wounds on the same day. A formal photograph of the party, sporting trophies, reveals an empty seat at the front and it might be guessed that this is the place that Felix Baxter would have occupied. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his part in the action and the citation provides a vivid account of the action and his concern for his last man. The award was given: ‘For conspicuous bravery. Prior to the raid on the hostile line he was engaged during two nights in cutting wire close to the enemy’s trenches. The enemy could be heard on the other side of the parapet. Second Lieutenant Baxter, while assisting in the wirecutting, held a bomb in his hand with the pin withdrawn ready to throw. On one occasion the bomb slipped and fell to the ground, but he instantly picked it up, unscrewed the baseplug, and took out the detonator, which he smothered in the ground, thereby preventing the alarm being given and undoubtedly saving many casualties. Later, he led the left storming-party with the greatest gallantry, and was the first man into the trench, shooting the sentry with his revolver. He then assisted to bomb dugouts, and finally climbed out of the trench and assisted the last man over the parapet. After this he was not seen again, though search parties were at once sent out to look for him. There seems no doubt that he lost his life in his great devotion to duty.’ [London Gazette 26th September 1916].News of his severe injuries reached his regiment and his family but there was a possibility that he had survived and been made a prisoner. In July the German government informed the American Embassy that he had died on the afternoon of the raid. In 1920 German records revealed that he had been buried in the churchyard at Boiry, close to Blairville. His remains were eventually transferred to the cemetery at Fillièvres several miles away and his medals were acquired by the Imperial War Museum where they are displayed in fine fashion today. He was Liverpool’s first V.C. winner in the Great War, although there is apparently no special memorial to him in that city. His name is commemorated on the Kidderminster, St. Mary’s, Oldswinford, church, Christ’s Hospital and the former Hartlebury Grammar School Memorials His wife received the Victoria Cross from King George V on the 29th November 1916. She returned to live in Kidderminster for a while and later remarried.